AN extraordinary general meeting has been proposed to sort out who leads community radio station Bay-FM.
The management and leadership of the station is in limbo, with allegations made that the new president and secretary were not members at the time of their election.
James Harling was voted in as president in October after a group called Friends of Bay-FM made a play for leadership positions and sought change in the way the station operated.
Mr Harling was not part of the Friends group.
It is understood that during discussion regarding Mr Harling’s status at the station, he was asked to leave the premises and refused, with police called.
Mr Harling left and later froze the station’s bank account.
He has since written a letter to members, saying that he has asked the secretary to call an extraordinary general meeting for late next month.
Mr Harling said in the letter that since the election a small group had disrupted the station and he regarded the removal of elected office bearers as unconstitutional.
“In order to protect the station and its assets … I have placed a stop payment on BCRA Inc funds to protect the financial interest of members following legal advice to do so from two respected legal firms,’’ he said.
Mr Harling said that after disputes at the station, door lock access codes and computer passwords were changed, denying the station manager access.
He also has sent a statutory declaration to members.
Patron and Mayor Karen Williams said a number of Bay-FM office-holders and members had resigned since the outbreak of internal strife, with the community group wracked by disunity.
A group of members had appointed a replacement president and new executive members.
“There can only be harm to the good reputation of Bay-FM while the dispute rages,” Cr Williams said.
“It is extremely unfortunate that infighting has brought the organisation to the point it is today.
“This impasse needs to be resolved quickly. Personalities have to be put to one side and everyone needs to consider what is best for the organisation.’’
She said she hoped an urgent extraordinary general meeting would resolve the issue.
